Sporting Influence Foundation is proud to announce that we have secured full funding from Sport England to deliver our Play2EmpowHER Girls Bridging Academy COMPLETELY FREE for the next 12 months. This investment represents a significant step forward in our mission to remove barriers and create more inclusive sporting opportunities for young people across North Yorkshire.
Play2EmpowHER was created to support girls in Years 3–6 who love football but may not yet feel ready to step into competitive team environments. Research and experience both show that many girls drift away from sport during late primary school due to confidence challenges, social pressures or concerns about trials and match play. Our Bridging Academy provides a positive alternative — a safe, welcoming space where girls can play, develop skills and build confidence without the pressure of competition.
The sessions are deliberately non-competitive, focusing instead on enjoyment, social development and skill progression. There are no trials, no team selection and no expectation to play matches. Instead, girls are encouraged to learn at their own pace, make new friends and rediscover their love for football in an environment built on encouragement and belonging.
Through this funding, we will be able to deliver consistent weekly sessions for a full year, significantly increasing opportunities for girls in the local community to access the game. Our long-term aim is to help participants develop the confidence to progress into grassroots football if and when they feel ready — while also recognising that simply staying active and enjoying the sport is an equally important outcome.
This funding not only strengthens our commitment to girls’ sport but also reinforces our wider objective: ensuring that sport is accessible, inclusive and empowering for every child, regardless of ability or confidence level.
Bookings for the upcoming intake open Friday 27th February, 12:00pm with limited spaces available. We look forward to welcoming the next group of girls to Play2EmpowHER and continuing to build a community where football is fun, supportive and open to all.
To secure your child’s place, visit www.sportinginfluence.com and log in to your parent account. Once logged in, select the Play2EmpowHER tab and ensure you choose the “Weekly Bridging Academy” option. This must be added to your cart and checked out in order for your place to be confirmed. Please note that simply viewing the session will not reserve a space — it must be added to your cart and fully completed through checkout.